Our Programs
The Esther Project Initiative
Equipping the Next Generation for Success.
An 8-week curriculum designed to build leadership, emotional intelligence, and life skills through classes, mentorship, workshops, and community projects. Students learn self-awareness, communication, conflict resolution, and goal setting while gaining real-world experience. Graduates earn a certificate, scholarship eligibility, and mentorship that supports their resilience, purpose, and success in school, work, and life.
Teach You To Understand (T.U.T.U.)
Where Creativity and Connection Flourish
T.U.T.U. is a holistic program that helps young people develop life skills, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking to thrive in school, work, and relationships. Through mentorship, workshops, and practical lessons in areas like finance, career readiness, and communication, participants gain the tools to make informed decisions and grow with confidence. The program also nurtures resilience, cultural identity, and family bonds, creating a strong foundation for long-term success.
Ancestral Recovery & Legacy Program
A branch of T.U.T.U., this program helps participants confront generational trauma and reclaim their heritage. By exploring genealogy, cultural history, and healing practices, women, youth, and families strengthen identity, leadership, and confidence while building a sense of connection across generations.
Let's Keep the Conversation Going
(L.K.T.C.G.)
Change Begins with Conversation
A community platform for youth and families to explore real-life issues through dialogue, workshops, and forums. With the motto “We speak, we listen, we learn,” it creates safe spaces to discuss topics like health, justice, identity, and leadership. Participants build self-awareness, life skills, and empathy while breaking down barriers and fostering unity across diverse communities.
Our Scholarships
A note from Dr. Veronica Nealy, President - June 23, 2025:
As part of our strategic growth, we will not be awarding scholarships in 2025. This intentional pause gives us the opportunity to restructure and strengthen our scholarship programming to better serve our primary audience: young adults and college students.
In 2026, we will launch a consolidated scholarship initiative under a single name: the RJ Level STEAM Scholarship. This refreshed program merges our previous offerings—the Precious C. Scholarship (which supported middle school “C” students) and the RJ Level Scholarship—into one unified effort focused on young adults pursuing education and careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).
While the Precious C. Scholarship will be phased out, we celebrate the impact it made over the past four years in the lives of middle and high school students. Its legacy will live on through our ongoing commitment to educational empowerment.
By shifting our scholarship focus to the college level, we gain a meaningful opportunity to deepen our impact. Unlike our previous audience of middle and high school students—where parents were often the decision-makers—college students are able to make their own choices. This opens the door for:
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Stronger engagement from volunteers
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New opportunities to recruit board members
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Hosting weekend workshops and leadership development sessions
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Building lasting relationships with students who may one day give back—whether through their time, talent, or financial support
This evolution reflects the mission of The Esther Project Initiative, offering us a broader platform to nurture leaders, ignite change, and create lasting transformation in communities through the power of education, empowerment, and engagement.
We look forward to launching the new RJ Level STEAM Scholarship in 2026 and continuing our journey of impact with young adults at the center of our work.
R.J. Level Steam Scholarship
Award: $500
Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators
The RJ Level STEAM Scholarship supports high school and college students pursuing education and careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Recipients gain mentorship, professional development opportunities, and access to a network of STEAM leaders to foster creativity, innovation, and leadership. The scholarship provides meaningful opportunities for students to excel academically, develop their skills, and prepare to make a lasting impact in their chosen fields. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their goals, achievements, and potential through essays, community service, and letters of recommendation.